GLOUCESTERSHIRE OLD SPOTS

BREED HISTORY

According to GOSPBC breed history, "The first pedigree records of pigs in the UK began in 1885, much later than they did for cattle, sheep and horses because the pig was a peasant’s animal, a scavenger, and was never highly regarded. No other pedigree spotted breed was recorded before 1913, so today’s GOS is the oldest such breed in the world!"

GOSPBC goes on to state "The breed originated around the Berkeley Vale on the southern shores of the river Severn in south west England (click here for more detail Map showing Foundation herds with Boars). It was usually kept in the cider and perry pear orchards of the area and on the dairy farms. Windfall fruit and waste from the dairies supplemented its grazing habit. Local folklore says that the spots on its back are bruises from the falling fruit. Besides its correct title and variations such as Gloster Spot or just Old Spot, the breed is also known as The Orchard Pig and The Cottager’s Pig."

Gloucestershire Old Spots, GOS Pig Registry, USGOS

Pictured on the GOSPBC website, "The First Selection, L-R Harry Nichols of Kingscote, James Peter of Berkeley (Chairman) and W Nixon, Livestock Officer for Province of Bristol, selecting pigs for the first herdbook."

History records show that the first GOS pigs were imported into the US from the UK before WWI. It is stated that this breed was used to create the spotted Poland China breed., or the Spot breed, still alive today.

According to GOSPBC, another import was brought into the US in the 1950s, and this time was used to create the Minnesota No. 2 Hybrid, said to be the pioneers of the modern commercial hybrids producing pork and bacon in the western world today.

Another import came in the 1980s, imported by George Styles, in hopes of preserving stock outside of the UK, but by the early 90s only one farm in California could be found with them and they were unregistered with no pedigree lineage that could be confirmed.

In 1995, Robyn Metcalfe approached GOSPBC and asked them to select for her 20 quality young unrelated piglets to export to the US and to arrange all of the details. According to GOSPBC "The Club’s then Chairman, Geoffrey Cloke, and Secretary, Richard Lutwyche, visited three significant herds to select stock and get agreement to isolate the selected pigs while veterinary tests were carried out. The three herds were George Styles’ Horsehill herd in Worcestershire; Jonathan Crump’s Burfords herd in Gloucestershire and Arthur and Ann Uglow’s Endsleigh herd in Devon. A livestock export consultant, Tim Harris, joined the team to co-ordinate activities, ensure the extensive paperwork was completed in time and accurately and to book the flight and make the necessary arrangements for their arrival in New York."

Pig Breeders celebrate at heathrow l-r Jonathan and Mel Crump, Tim Harris, a representative from GOSA, Arthur Uglow, Gordon, George Styles’ stockman and Neil Styles and David and Ann Uglow.

GOSPBC goes on to state "The chosen pigs were moved into isolation for several months and tended by stockmen who had no contact with the other pigs on the farm while extensive veterinary tests were carried out. Eventually, all the legal hurdles were cleared and special crates built and the three lots of pigs came together for the first time at Heathrow Airport on a cold winter’s morning where they were loaded into the crates and then onto the jumbo jet."

Ann Uglow tends to her pigs in the isolation unit on her farm in Devon.

Loading the pigs into their special crates at Heathrow.

GOSPBC continues "Sadly for them that wasn’t the end of their ordeal for they were moved into another isolation unit in New York while further veterinary tests were undertaken and whilst the pigs that were first selected on those three English farms were only a matter of weeks old, when Robyn Metcalfe and other American farmers committed to taking these pigs first saw them, they were sleek pigs nearer a year old and ready to start breeding."

Final preparations before the pigs are transferred on board their jumbo jet. The plastic sheeting is to ensure that none of their urine or faeces escapes into the hold.

The next import was done by Julie & Luther Clevenger of White Buffalo Ranch in Oregon. They imported 8 sows in the Fall of 2016. Mandi Garbut, secretary of GOSPBC, assisted by provide an introduction to Wendy Scudamore, who helped arrange the next entire export from start to finish. They were able to then import 20, with 19 surviving the long, arduous process in the Spring of 2017.

Photo credit to Luther Clevenger - pigs being unloaded on March 23rd 2017 in the US!

15 gilts representing 14 lines and 4 boars – all 4 of the boar lines. They were to be in quarantine for 30 days before being released to go to Oregon. Of the original 20, only 1 gilt was lost during in the 60 day quarantine in the U.K.

Some of the pigs were so large, they had to fabricate a double decker crate! They put 12 of the smallest pigs in the top deck and 7 of the largest in the bottom. There were 5 watering nipples on each deck.

The next documented import was done by Loretta Heath of northern California. According to Mandi Garbutt, GOSPBC, this import brought in 34 GOS piglets, from 6 different maternal lines, ranging in age from 3 to 6 months old!

Photo credit Loretta Heath courtesy of Mandi Garbutt.

The GOS genetics in the US have vastly improved, though the breed is still considered "threatened" in 2025 by the Livestock Conservancy. The Princess Freda line is currently the only sow line that is no longer in the US. All other lines are available, and preservation efforts are underway to ensure we don't lose any other lines. We endeavor to see yet another import in the coming years to ensure all of the bloodlines are kept in good standing! We encourage all GOS breeders and pig enthusiasts alike to donate to our organization so we can import sooner rather than later!

Thank you for reading and we hope you enjoyed this wonderful piece of GOS history!